Page 123 of The One That I Want

‘Yes. And thank you – for the time off.’ I’m stalling. ‘Anjali,’ I say with a sigh, ‘I know the real reason you brought Poppy on and gave me that assignment.’

There, I’ve said it.

She sits back, clearly taken off-guard. ‘Did Poppy tell you? She wasn’t supposed to say anything.’

‘No, I worked it out. And then I asked Poppy not to tell you I knew, because Isoappreciated the thought behind your scheme— Oh, er…’ Calling it a ‘scheme’ may not be the most flattering characterisation of what Anjali did. ‘Yourplan.’

She waves her hand. ‘Don’t worry, it was a scheme of sorts. I told myself it was for a noble cause, wanting you to be happy, but… Greta, I think I owe you an apology.’

‘An apology?’ Well, this is unexpected.

‘Yes. Almost immediately, I started having doubts that I’d done the right thing. I even said something to Poppy the first time she and I met – about it being patronising of me to assume I knew what was best for you.’

‘No, that’s— It wasn’t patronising.’

‘You’re being very forgiving. But in hindsight, I think it was, and I’m sorry. And you weresucha good sport, going on all those awful dates…’

‘Well, a few of them were awful, but a couple of the men I met were lovely – including Ewan’s friend – just not for me. And, as Poppy says, there’s merit in kissing some frogs to help narrow down what you want in a relationship. And I hadn’t been near a pond inyearsbefore I met Poppy! Sorry, I really flogged that metaphor, didn’t I?’

‘Or “frogged” it,’ she says with a cheeky smile.

‘Oh no,’ I groan.

‘That bad?’

‘Is there such a thing as “mum jokes”?’

‘My children would tell you there is. They don’t think I’m funny at all. But back to you,’ she says, serious again.

My stomach does a flip. It’s all very well masking my true feelings with humour, but the real reason behind this conversation makes me ill.

‘How are you going to sort things out with Ewan?’ she presses when I don’t say anything.

‘First, I need him to respond to my messages. I’ve already sent two and nothing.’

‘Can I see?’

I hesitate, then quickly decide I need all the help I can get – especially as Tiggy’s leading a design workshop all day for her biggest client and is unreachable. I unlock my phone and hand it to Anjali so she can read the two messages I sent on my way back toNouveau:

I am so sorry. Please let me explain. Can I meet you?

I’ll come to you. Just let me know where. Xxx

‘Well?’ I ask.

Anjali frowns slightly and purses her lips – her thinking face.

‘There you are, Grets!’

At hearing my name, I twist in my chair. Luca. Leaning against the doorframe.

‘Sorry, Luca, not now. We’re in crisis mode here,’ says Anjali. Talking about ‘fudging the truth’ – she’s made it sound like a work crisis.

‘Oh. Anything I can help with?’ he asks, stepping into Anjali’s office.

‘No,’ we say together.

‘But thank you,’ Anjali adds, smiling at him sweetly.

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